Texas A&M's First Two Football Games to Air on SEC Network

Texas A&M’s first two football games of the 2014 season will appear on the SEC Network--the new national sports network launching August 14 and operated by ESPN--the Southeastern Conference and ESPN announced Thursday.

Along with airing the Aggies’ opener at South Carolina on Thursday, Aug. 28, which will kick at 5 p.m. (CT), the SEC Network will broadcast A&M’s home opener against Lamar on Saturday, Sept. 6 with kickoff set for 6:30 p.m. (CT).

“The fact that the SEC Network will originate a game from every stadium in the conference in the first four weeks of the 2014 season is testament to the depth of coverage fans can expect from the network,” said Mike Slive, SEC commissioner. “In just the first month of the season, fans that get the network will enjoy all the passion and pageantry of SEC football from 14 of the greatest venues in the world of sports. This is what the SEC Network is all about.”

The SEC Network will air a game featuring every football team in the Southeastern Conference within the first four weeks of the 2014 college football season. The first 16 games include a home game from all 14 SEC football stadiums. In addition, eight SEC schools will open their 2014 seasons on the network, including the defending SEC Champion, Auburn, and Arkansas in a conference matchup at 3 p.m. (CT) on Saturday, Aug. 30.

Each of the first two weeks features six games. Opening week includes a previously announced Thursday night doubleheader, three games on Saturday and a unique opportunity over Labor Day weekend for a Sunday evening game at Tennessee.

“The network will have a terrific line-up of games over the first four weeks. The schedule includes quality and depth from across the conference,” said Justin Connolly, ESPN senior vice president, college networks. “The full breadth of teams and stadiums showcased in the first month alone speaks volumes on the type of programming sports fans should expect on the SEC Network.”

On Saturday, Sept. 6, the SEC Network will showcase six different matchups. Each of the games will be available to all fans who receive SEC Network. The games will be televised on either the SEC Network or an overflow channel made available on that Saturday.

Week three is punctuated by an early-season conference match-up between Kentucky and Florida. In week four, the SEC Network will have two yet to be determined matchups to complete the Saturday tripleheader. Television selections for the remaining games in the opening weeks of the season will be announced at a later date.

2014 SEC College Football Schedule (subject to change):

Date

Time (CT)

Game

Thu, Aug. 28

5 p.m.

Texas A&M at South Carolina

8:15 p.m.

Temple at Vanderbilt

Sat, Aug. 30

11 a.m.

Tennessee-Martin at Kentucky

3 p.m.

Arkansas at Auburn

6:30 p.m.

Southern Mississippi at Mississippi State

Sun, Aug. 31

6 p.m.

Utah State at Tennessee

Sat, Sept. 6

11 a.m.

Florida Atlantic at Alabama

11 a.m.

Arkansas State at Tennessee

3 p.m.

Eastern Michigan at Florida

3 p.m.

Nicholls State at Arkansas

6:30 p.m.

Sam Houston State at LSU

6:30 p.m.

Lamar at Texas A&M

Sat, Sept. 13

11 a.m.

UCF at Missouri

3 p.m.

Louisiana-Lafayette at Ole Miss

6:30 p.m.

Kentucky at Florida

Sat, Sept. 20

11 a.m.

Troy at Georgia

3 p.m.

TBD

6:30 p.m.

TBD

The full slate of commentator assignments and surrounding programming will be assigned closer to the season’s start. The current roster of announcers, reporters and analysts for games and studio shows includes:

About SEC NetworkThe Southeastern Conference and ESPN have signed a 20-year agreement through 2034 to create and operate a multiplatform network which will launch August 14, 2014. The new network and its accompanying digital platform will air SEC content 24/7 including more than 1,000 events in its first year. The network will televise approximately 45 SEC football games, more than 100 men’s basketball games, 60 women’s basketball games, 75 baseball games, and events from across the SEC’s 21 sports annually. Programming will also include studio shows, original content such as SEC Storied, spring football games, signing day and pro days coverage. Hundreds of additional live events from various sports will be offered exclusively on the digital platform. AT&T U-Verse, DISH and National Rural Telecommunications cooperative (NRTC) have agreed to carry the SEC Network as of this date.